AM Boatanchor Transmitter Guide needed!

[W8EJO]

In my opinion, W3JN is truely one of the best & brightest contributors to this forum
and his "Jonny Novice's Guide to Receivers" is a great guide to AM boatanchor
receivers. I've used it to narrow my receiver shopping and I'bm sure others have done the same.

Is anyone here up to the task of producing a similar article on the subject of
commercially produced AM boatanchor transmitters?

I am woefully unqualified for this task, however I suspect there is a member out
there who knows as much about DX-100s, Valiants, Viking IIs & 32V-2s as John knows
about R390As, HRO's and SX100s.

For those of us that are in the equipment aquisition phase, such an article
would be invaluble.

[W9GT]

Try Transmitters, Exciters, and Power Amplifiers 1930-1980 by Raymond S. Moore.  Also Tube Type Transmitter Guide by Eugene Rippen.  Both are available from Electric Radio Magazine, I believe.

73,  Jack, W9GT

[W9GT]

Electric Radio Magazine also has had many articles on various boatanchor rigs.

73,  Jack, W9GT

[W8EJO]

Maybe a better idea is for the site administrator to set up an Equipment Review section  devoted to boatanchor AM gear (similar to that at the E-Ham site).

It could be divided into Transmitter, Receiver,Amplifier and Accessory sections.

That way we could all chime in with our opinions (educated & otherwise) & it would be a permanent record of the groups opinions on various pieces of AM gear.

[W2INR]

Terry,

Would this be for an interactive forum or a static forum like the Online Handbook?

[W8EJO]

My thought was as a static forum (or group of forums) arranged as follows:

I) Boatanchor Equipment Reviews

A) Receivers
   1) Hallicrafters SX100
     a) review 1
     b) review 2
     c) review 3
     n) etc.
 
   2) Hammarlund SP200
     a) review 1
     b) review 2
     c) review 3
     n) etc.
 
    N) etc...

B) Transmitters 

1) Johnson Valiant
     a) review 1
     b) review 2
     c) review 3
     n) etc.
 
   2) Collins 32V2
     a) review 1
     b) review 2
     c) review 3
     n) etc.
 
    N) etc...

C) Accessories

1) National Select-o-Jet
     a) review 1
     b) review 2
     c) review 3
     n) etc.
 
   2) Hammarlund HC-10
     a) review 1
     b) review 2
     c) review 3
     n) etc.

    N) etc...

[W2INR]

Hi Terry


If the site is static then why won't the Online Handbook work for this application? I mean that is what is was concieved for. To provide resource info for the new Am'er and for the experienced. There are sections for transmitters , receivers and the like.

The outline you gave is nice but will look the same way yours does in there is no info added. Where are the reveiws coming from?

In my opinion adding another section would only duplicate the existing info. We are faced with the same situation as we would if we were to add another section - - input. Maybe a product review section for the handbook?

I am just fishing for ideas here.

 
Anyone else have input?

[W8EJO]

Adding additional sections within the existing Handbook is a great way to go.

I think that 3 additional sections would be adequate. One each for Receiver Reviews, Transmitters Reviews and Amplifiers/Accessory Reviews.  (See e-ham.net's equipment review section as a guide).

As far as input, we could start by copying John's reviews into the receiver section. I'm sure others will be more than happy to add their opinions.

I know that the Equipment Review section on the e-ham site is one of their most popular features & draws many vistors to the site.

AMFONE could provide a similar service only specializing in AM gear.

[w3jn]

Thanks for the kind words Terry    I'm glad that you and others have found it useful.

I'm sure not the guy to write an xmitter guide as I really don't have a wide-ranging experience.

The idea of a 'reviews' section is outstanding... but I don't know if it needs to be divided up into sections.  Just anyone with a review start a thread - the 'search' function works well so if you want a review on how that S-38 will work as your main station receiver, it'll come right up.

73 John

[W8EJO]

Pesrsonally I would like to see an Equipment Review section added to the Handbook section.

It would formalize and centralize the reviews providing a "place to go" for members to add their experiences with a particular piece of gear. It would simpliify look ups & additions and provide a great reference tool.

Just as one goes to the dictionary to look-up an unfamiliar word, a person could go to the Equipment Review Section to look-up a piece of equipment he is considering.

It may save someone from buying a Johnson Pacemaker or a National NC88.

[2ZE]

Anyone else have input?

I am going to go to the Elmira hamfester this weekend with the OM (W2ZM). I will ask him and see how receptive he is to the idea.
We have both worked on alot of rigs, but he has seen the insides of just about every rig known to man.
For what its worth, I can tell you I already know what his favorite commercial rig is.....
The Johnson Viking II.
Very versitile, ease to work on, common tubes and parts, built like a brick sh*thouse for a 100 watt rig. Now that he is back in aquisition mode, he already has 3 of them and would buy more if the price is right.
I will keep you posted G.

Mike

[W2INR]

Please stand by - - - - - we are working on this Terry !!!!

[W8EJO]

Please stand by - - - - - we are working on this Terry !!!!

Great!

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Please stand by - - - - - we are working on this Terry !!!!

It would be good if there were some review guidelines so that comparsions could be made between similar pieces of equipment.
Reviews like: I like my NC-xxx because it glows and feels warm all the time and my  Harvery TB-ABC sucks probably should be discouraged.

Rreviews of transceivers should also be considered since many AM'ers now use much newer equipment to generate that AM sound. Remember the title, "Your Online Guide to AM and Vintage Radio".

[W2VW]

nd. Remember the title, "Your Online Guide to AM and Vintage Radio".

But does that mean Vintage Radio or  Vintage   radio?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

nd. Remember the title, "Your Online Guide to AM and Vintage Radio".

But does that mean Vintage Radio or  Vintage   radio?

Maybe, "Vintage   radio" really needs a Vintage(d)   radio

[David, K3TUE]

Couldn't a quick and dirty review section be done by using the handbook forum group, setting up 3 forums (receivers, transmitters, accessories), and each new product be it's own topic with a poll at the top?

[W2INR]

Good Morning

Okay Terry we have installed a reveiw section on Amfone. It is listed in the contents as "Equipment Reveiws"

I took the liberty of putting the JN"S receiver guide in the receiver section.

Where the Online Handbook refers to more technical issues with receivers and equipment the "Equipment Reveiws" section can deal with just straight observations and input from people that have used the listed gear. Let's see how it goes.


Thanks for the idea Terry.

http://amfone.net//index.php?ind=reviews

[kc2ifr]

HI Gary,
Just tried the reviews section but get an error.......not authorized.
Story of my life!!!!!!

[W2INR]

Try it now Bill

[kc2ifr]

OK FINE....
Works good Gary and it looks great.......thanks again for all your hard work.

[W8EJO]

Thanks Gary. It looks perfect.

Now we need lots & lots of opinions.

Terry
W8EJO

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Why can't we have the same background colors we have here? The dark gray (or whatever you call it), along with the smaller font, makes it difficult on the eyes. Maybe I'm just going blind.

The bottom posts a "Rate" button. "Rate the Review?", "Rate the Rig?" (who knows until...)  probably would be better than having to click the button to see what "Rate" is for.

Not to jump on Dave, but I just read his review on the Ranger. One streaming paragraph; lift your eyes for a micro second and you're lost. If you do a review, split it up into paragraphs, commas, periods, and all that good word processing stuff.

Rant mode off...........

[W2VW]

Why can't we have the same background colors we have here? The dark gray (or whatever you call it), along with the smaller font, makes it difficult on the eyes. Maybe I'm just going blind.

The bottom posts a "Rate" button. "Rate the Review?", "Rate the Rig?" (who knows until...)  probably would be better than having to click the button to see what "Rate" is for.

Not to jump on Dave, but I just read his review on the Ranger. One streaming paragraph; lift your eyes for a micro second and you're lost. If you do a review, split it up into paragraphs, commas, periods, and all that good word processing stuff.

Rant mode off...........

Where's your Central Electronics review??? 
I'll fix mine sometime when there is a little tempus to fugit.

[W2INR]

Hi Pete

I am glad you like it!  Considering your experience with equipment I would guess we will see many reveiws from you. I hope having someone get on your case about grammer and the likes won't hold you or anyone else back.

We decided on this format so the author could select the color of the font , size , shape, type - - insert pictiures etc etc etc - -whatever they want! Or a simple copy and paste will work too.

There have been two people that took the time to offer something to the AM community. What else matters?